Thread Tools

Interesting story from the Navy Times this morning... Major General General Cleveland responds to a letter from Dan Burton... interestingly enough this was my initial prediction,that it is less to do with the actual incident, but more to do with a attempt at a coverup... and now the allegation of trying to influence the testimony of a witness is being thrown in...

Regrettably, it appears that your perception of the incident is based on incomplete and factually inaccurate press coverage,â€ť Cleveland wrote. â€śDespite what has been reported, these allegations are not founded solely on the word of the detainee, but rather, were initially raised by other U.S. service members.â€ť

While assault and resulting injury to the detainee, the more disconcerting allegations are those related to the Sailor's attempts to cover up the incident, particularly in what seems to be an effort to influence the testimony of a witness...

Interesting story from the Navy Times this morning... Major General General Cleveland responds to a letter from Dan Burton... interestingly enough this was my initial prediction,that it is less to do with the actual incident, but more to do with a attempt at a coverup... and now the allegation of trying to influence the testimony of a witness is being thrown in...

I get that but here's the concern that comes out later in the article:

In the Jan. 4 response, Burton said he appreciated the generalâ€™s attempt to â€śset the record straight,â€ť but said the additional information Cleveland provided â€śonly reinforcedâ€ť his concerns that the allegations and subsequent prosecution are sending a bad message to all U.S. troops engaged in combat.

...we have created a culture within our Armed Forces where our military personnel are now more concerned with protecting themselves from legal jeopardy for every action or statement, than they are about fighting the enemy,â€ť Burton wrote.
...â€śOur troops and these SEALs need to be bold and decisive in combat; not hesitant and over thinking every action for fear of prosecution.â€ť

...Burtonâ€™s letter goes on to say that prosecuting the SEALs is just what the enemy wants, adding that al-Qaida â€śinstructs their operatives to allege detainee abuse if detained by American forces,â€ť and teaches them to â€śself-inflict injuriesâ€ť to help those allegations.

Burton finished his letter by stating that continuing the prosecution will do â€śmore harm than goodâ€ť to the nation and the military and called on Cleveland to drop the charges.

I get that but here's the concern that comes out later in the article:

In the Jan. 4 response, Burton said he appreciated the generalâ€™s attempt to â€śset the record straight,â€ť but said the additional information Cleveland provided â€śonly reinforcedâ€ť his concerns that the allegations and subsequent prosecution are sending a bad message to all U.S. troops engaged in combat.

...we have created a culture within our Armed Forces where our military personnel are now more concerned with protecting themselves from legal jeopardy for every action or statement, than they are about fighting the enemy,â€ť Burton wrote.
...â€śOur troops and these SEALs need to be bold and decisive in combat; not hesitant and over thinking every action for fear of prosecution.â€ť

...Burtonâ€™s letter goes on to say that prosecuting the SEALs is just what the enemy wants, adding that al-Qaida â€śinstructs their operatives to allege detainee abuse if detained by American forces,â€ť and teaches them to â€śself-inflict injuriesâ€ť to help those allegations.

Burton finished his letter by stating that continuing the prosecution will do â€śmore harm than goodâ€ť to the nation and the military and called on Cleveland to drop the charges.

Click to expand...

Not at all arguing the veracity of what information that has been divulged, just responding to the ain't it awful crowd, that there is more than just a punch in the mouth..

The greatests sins in an organization like the military or law enforcement, if sometimes not the act.. but the subsequent cover up.. instead of a wink and a nod, several people become complicit..

It comes down to, from what we know right now, the hysteria and need for attention from a congressman.. vs. a major general responding to the information presented... Burton sounds like just another lemming..